A look of Deerslayer's induced
Judith to explain.
"You can advise Hetty as you land," she said hastily, "for I intend
that she shall accompany you to the shore."
"Is this wise, Judith? It's true, that under common sarcumstances
a feeble mind is a great protection among red-skins, but when their
feelin's are up, and they're bent on revenge, it's hard to say what
may come to pass. Besides -"
"What were you about to say, Deerslayer?" asked Judith, whose
gentleness of voice and manner amounted nearly to tenderness,
though she struggled hard to keep her emotions and apprehensions
in subjection.
"Why, simply that there are sights and doin's that one even as
little gifted with reason and memory as Hetty here, might better
not witness. So, Judith, you would do well to let me land alone,
and to keep your sister back."
"Never fear for me, Deerslayer," put in Hetty, who comprehended
enough of the discourse to know its general drift, "I'm feeble
minded, and that they say is an excuse for going anywhere; and
what that won't excuse, will be overlooked on account of the Bible
I always carry. It is wonderful, Judith, how all sorts of men; the
trappers as well as the hunters; red-men as well as white; Mingos
as well as Delawares do reverence and fear the Bible!"
"I think you have not the least ground to fear any injury, Hetty,"
answered the sister, "and therefore I shall insist on your going to
the Huron camp with our friend.
Pages:
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770